dachacho
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- edmonds, WA
Ill try to make this quick. I just bought a 2000 xj sport 127,500 miles, in awesome shape in and out, easily the smoothest best running xj ive ever driven and i drive them all the time having a 97 and 98 previously. I am currently in school to become a chrysler technician and have been doing it for a year, general mechanical work for about 6 years. Anyways ive learned from the veteran techs about the 0331 head issue as they crack and ruin the engine if not caught early etc. This is the first car ive really spent some good money on and so naturally im a little nervous and worried, i did a complete inspection after i bought it and noticed coolant on the valve cover by the bolts. traced it down to the upper radiator hose by the clamp, very small cut but the reservoir was 3/4 under full. replaced the hose yesterday and properly refilled the cooling system. never goes over 210 even with the old hose. Basically im torn because on the forums, ive seen nothing but "its not if, but when" these heads crack, and overall a negative look at these two years of xj heads. All of the technicians who have worked on these since they were new have told me almost the opposite, they said it is somewhat rare actually, and that most of them happened in the first 60k and after that as long as you maintain the car like you should, it should be just as reliable as any other year xj. Getting to my main point, How worried should i be? i know all about warning signs and i havent honestly had the car long enough to fully see any of them but id like to just get some opinions to my situation